Obituary of Harold F. Peterson

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited number of people are allowed in the building at a time and a mask is required at all times. Harold Peterson, Garden City NY, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2020 at the age of 92 from a heart attack. Hal was born on July 25, 1928 to Fred and Evelyn Peterson in Ridgewood NY. A graduate of Hofstra University, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1955. Harold enjoyed successful careers at Standard Oil, New York Telephone and NYNEX before retiring in 1990. With an interest in “Reforming New York’s Dysfunctional State Government” he had been a Guest columnist for the LI Herald since August of 2010 and published columns till last week through his website. In 1956, Hal married the love of his life Mary Ellen Stapleton. They enjoyed a tremendous life together for nearly 60 years. Loving and devoted parents of Steven (Karen), Robert (Jann), Nancy (Steven) Onufrey and Kathleen (Raymond) Moore. They were adored grandparents of eight and recently two great grandchildren. Reposing Clair S Bartholomew & Son Inc. in Bellmore NY for the immediate family due to Covid. Funeral Mass at St. Barnabas RC Church, Bellmore, Monday with interment at St. Charles Cemetery, East Farmingdale, NY. In lieu of flowers, plant a tree via OneTreePlanted.org for $1 to pass his legacy forward. Harold left a final message from a Peggy Lee song “If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing. Let’s break out the booze and have a ball. If that’s all there is”. RIP Harold and keep on dancing with Mary Ellen.